Letter from Br. Colmcille Cregan OFM Cap. to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. referring to Fr. Albert Bibby's worsening condition in Santa Barbara Hospital. He writes that Father Albert ‘has no desire to die, as he had [a] big wish to do something for Saint Agnes [Mission Santa Inés], but God has ordained otherwise. Anyway, he set the Mission going and had got many interested in the restoration work’. He also refers to Fr. Dominic O'Connor's presence which has delighted Albert and that the latter expresses no bitterness towards his brethren at home. He also affirms that it is Bibby's wish to be buried in Ireland and to make representations to the Provincial Minister and the relevant authorities in Ireland to ensure that this happens.
A photographic print of mourners at the funeral of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. at the Santa Inés Mission in California in February 1925. The group includes Fr. Joseph Fenlon OFM Cap., Fr. Dominic O'Connor OFM Cap., Fr. Raphael Quinn OFM Cap., and Fr. Urban Riordan OFM Cap.
Newspaper cuttings book compiled and annotated by Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. Printed stamp on inside front cover: ‘Franciscan Capuchin Library, Church Street, Dublin’. The volume includes: • Report on the celebration of the centenary of Father Mathew and proposed completion of Holy Trinity Church [c.1890]. • Obituary of Fr. Bernard Jennings OSFC and tribute by Cork Corporation, 'Cork Examiner' 21 Dec. 1904; 'Freeman’s Journal', 27 Dec. 1904. • Report on the blessing of the new bell at Holy Trinity Church. 24 July 1881. • The jubilee celebrations at Holy Trinity Church, Charlotte Quay, Cork ('Cork Examiner', 18 Feb. 1902). • Retreat for Third Order at Holy Trinity Church ('Cork Examiner', 20 Mar. 1916). • Father Mathew Chalice donated to Holy Trinity Church ('Cork Examiner', 16 Oct. 1928). • The ordination of six Capuchin friars as priests including Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. in Holy Trinity Church. • Damage to Holy Trinity Church by ‘English bullets’ and a reference to the tradition of Capuchin support for the Irish independence struggle (7 Oct. 1920). • The close of the mission in Holy Trinity Church (15 Mar. 1926). • Reports of damage to Holy Trinity Church during disturbances involving the British military (5 Oct. 1920); Fr. Dominic O’Connor’s recitation of the Rosary for political prisoners held Cork County Gaol (8 May 1920). • The funeral (with photographic print) of Fr. Martin Hyland OFM Cap. at Holy Trinity Church, Cork. (3 Apr. 1933). • Funeral of Br. Louis Daly OFM Cap. in Holy Trinity Church.
The file comprises the following editions: 28 June 1922 (no. 1) – 16 Mar. 1923 (no. 175). The series is missing a small number of editions but there are multiple copies of other issues extant in the file. The publication began with the attack on anti-treaty republicans in the Four Courts, and the publication focused on ways of conveying news of the changing situation to journalists, republican supporters and the general public. The first (un-numbered) edition was styled as a communiqué from Rory O’Connor, Major General, IRA. It read: ‘The boys are glorious, and will fight for their Republic to the end. How long will our misguided former comrades outside attack those who stand for Ireland alone?’ Reference is made in this first communiqué to Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. who were ministering to the besieged republicans.
Draft recollections of deceased Irish Capuchin friars compiled by an unknown author (but certainly by another friar). The texts are titled ‘Some who have gone before’ and ‘Predecessors / A Capuchin Reverie’. The text includes personal recollections of: Fr. Leonard Brophy OFM Cap. (1869-1930) Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. (1877-1925) Fr. Matthew O’Connor OFM Cap. (d. 27 Apr. 1930) Br. Felix Harte OFM Cap. (d. 11 Jan. 1935) Fr. Fidelis Neary OFM Cap. (d. 22 June 1932) Fr. Sebastian O’Brien OFM Cap. (1867-1931) Fr. Paul Neary OFM Cap. (d. 20 June 1939) The text also refers to several friars who have been given pseudonyms such as ‘Philemon’, ‘Junius’, and ‘Marcion’. The text includes references to Fr. Albert’s role in the 1916 Rising and in the later revolutionary period. It reads: ‘He felt, as few did, the piercing griefs of the young widows of Easter Week. Often would he visit them of an evening. … He made friends with the wistful little son and daughter who were orphaned by the bullets that took [Thomas] MacDonagh’s life away, and who were made motherless by the cruel waves that closed over the drowning body of the patriot’s bride [Muriel MacDonagh drowned in the sea off Skerries, County Dublin, on 9 July 1917]. For them he had a special corner in his affections. All his heart went out to that wee pair, so tragic, so utterly lonely’. The file also includes an attached clipping referring to the re-interment of the bodies of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. in Rochestown Capuchin Cemetery on 14 June 1958
Memoriam card for Fr. Dominic O’Connor. The card notes his role as chaplain to the Lord Mayors of Cork, Tomás Mac Curtain, and Terence MacSwiney. It also states that he died ‘in exile for the Republic of Ireland at Bend, Oregon, USA, 17th October 1935’.
An image of a group of Capuchin friars on a excursion to Inistioge in County Kilkenny in about 1907. Identifiable individuals include: Third row, first on the left: Fr. Ignatius Collins OFM Cap. (1885-1961) Second row, first on the left: Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. (1886-1971) Second row, second on the left: Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OFM Cap. (1875-1950) Second row, first on the right: Fr. Dominic O'Connor OFM Cap. (1883-1935) First row, second on the left: Fr. Cyril O'Sullivan OFM Cap. (1887-1921) First row, first on the right: Fr. Columbus Murphy OFM Cap. (1881-1962)
An image of a large group of Capuchin friars. A cover annotation reads: ‘Fr. Edwin and students’. Identifiable individuals include: Second row, second from the right: Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap. (1874-1938) Second row, third from the right: Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. (1877-1925) First row, second from the right: Fr. Ignatius Collins OFM Cap. (1885-1961) Third row, first from the right: Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. (1886-1971) Third row, third from the right: Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. (1880-1968) Third row, fifth from the right: Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. (1883-1935)
The fonds consists of the correspondence and papers of Capuchin friars detailing their involvement with participants in the national struggle. The majority of the material dates from 1916-1925 and includes many records highlighting the roles played by Irish Capuchins in ministering to republican leaders and their relations. Of particular interest is a large collection of prison letters including the correspondence of some of the leading figures of the Irish Revolution. The fonds also contains a large collection of republican publicity material, newspapers and miscellaneous items of ephemera and artefacts mostly relating to the military and political campaign organised by nationalists for Irish independence. A smaller collection relating to the repatriation of the bodies of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. and Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. from the United States to Ireland in 1958 is also extant.
